Description
Object description
British civilian worked on canals in GB, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of family background: memories of uncle, H G Wells. Recollections of life, 1939-1944: memories of air raids in Southampton; attending art school, Bournemouth; arrival of US troops. Recollections of period working on Canals, 1944-1945: joining Canal Women's scheme; recruitment procedure; memories of instructor, Kit Gayford; memories of fellow trainees, Kay and Miranda; clothing; description of canal boats; first journey from Bulls Bridge to London Docks. REEL 2 Continues: description of canal boats; loading of boats at London Docks; first contact with canal boat people; relations between women volunteers and canal boat people; process of loading and 'sheeting up'; air raids; system of passing through locks; difficulties negotiating tunnels; conditions on the Birmingham and Coventry connection or 'bottom road'. REEL 3 Continues: story of how reporter from Life magazine joined them on their second canal trip; change of crew for second training trip; being issued with own pair of boats Astra and Corolla after second training trip; story of how their engine was sabotaged; story of how they were blown onto a weir; relations with canal boat people; difficulties with load of aluminium; carrying coal loads for mills and factories; condition of canals; negotiating locks; methods of communication; difficulties of engine maintenance; relations with crew members, Miranda and Kay; food supplies. REEL 4 Continues: description of work and culture of canal people; story of dog given to Kay by canal boy, Harry Cox; difficulties of life for canal people; helping to make an alphabet book for canal children (copy donated to IWM); attitude towards 'Sister' Mary who provided medical assistance to canal people; washing facilities on boats; visiting public baths, Birmingham; attitude of canal people towards women volunteers; making sketches of canal life (some donated to IWM); regulation of women volunteers by Ministry of Transport; role of ice-breaking boats; heating the canal boats. REEL 5 Continues: laundry situation; occasion when she fell into a lock; leaving the canals, 7/1945; difficulty adapting to normal life; question of recognition of work of canal women; increasing interest in canal women today; reads her account of a visit to a Coventry mine; support for Labour Party, 1945.